Jasen Dill, left, and Judy Pohlod discuss returning to their homes, which made it through the Black Forest fire safely, as a storm passes overhead at the corner of Hodgen Road and Highway 83 Friday, June 14, 2013 in Colorado Springs, Colo. . (AP Photo/The Colorado Springs Gazette, Michael Ciaglo) MAGS OUT

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Our thoughts and prayers have been with the residents of the Colorado Springs area this week as they’ve battled the Black Forest fire and tried to cope with the immense damage it’s done.

The fire began Tuesday amid record-breaking heat and dry conditions. It quickly became the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history, destroying nearly 500 homes. The fire zone covered about 25 square miles and has already cost $3.5 million to fight. The numbers offer one measure of the scope of the tragedy. The stories of the people who have faced the fire offer another.

Most tragically, the fire took two lives. The bodies were found inside their garage Thursday. They were likely preparing to flee but were caught by the wind-driven blaze.

On Saturday as firefighters began to get the upper hand on the blaze — it was about 55 percent contained — and evacuation notices were lifted, residents who had been forced out of their homes returned to see the damage.

Jack and Judy Roe saw to their relief that their house had been spared. Several other homes on their block, however, where destroyed.

She said she saw charred piles of what remained of homes, with bricks the only distinguishable feature.

“But other than that, everything is black. The ground, everything is just black,” she said.

For those of us in northern Colorado who experienced the High Park fire last year, these stories are all too familiar. And, of course, many of us have friends and family who live in the Colorado Springs.

There are things each of us can do to help. We can donate to relief agencies. Right now, financial donations to the agencies are the best way to help. Soon, we’ll be able to volunteer our time. Volunteers aren’t needed right now at the site of the Black Forest fire, and they could make matters worse if groups of volunteers show up unexpectedly, but volunteer assistance will be needed later, during the recovery phase. For a reputable list of relief agencies that have responded to the Black Forest fire and for information ways to help, go to www.helpcoloradonow.org.

The fire also offers us an important reminder. While we don’t yet know for sure what caused the blaze, investigators say it’s likely it is human caused. The state’s dry conditions will persist throughout much of the summer. That means when we’re out enjoying Colorado’s outdoors we must take precautions to ensure we don’t make matters worse by accidently starting another fire.

Ultimately, we hope the knowledge that all of Colorado is with them will offer some comfort to those whose homes have been burned as they set about the task of rebuilding their lives.